Have you driven through Silicon Valley? Could you see where the fascinating inventions are made? On my first trip in 1990 I drove through, not seeing anything spectacular, wondering where the tech boom is happening. Most likely still today you are amazed by how little there actually is to see: no strikingly impressive landmarks, modest housing and office buildings, few signs of major brand names. It’s the opposite of going to Las Vegas!​No matter where in the world a computer is, chances are high that much of the hardware or software originated in Silicon Valley. When we think of London, Paris, New York — familiar pictures come to mind. But Silicon Valley? A blank. What is there to see? Impressive office complexes? Historical museums? When you dig deeper, you CAN actually find some places to visit.

I believe in the value of exploring the area where you live with your family. Silicon Valley is a place where many parents work, yet their children don’t see much behind the facades of the famous companies. Indeed, the interest in Silicon Valley is worldwide; many people are fascinated by the Valley and would like to take a tour of the big-name places. What is “virtually possible” on the web seems “virtually impossible” in real life, unless you work there or an employee takes you on a visit.

How can anyone feel the vibes and fascination of Silicon Valley? We went on to discover what you can actually see. Often this meant just riding our bikes around the areas where Google, Facebook, Apple, eBay and the like are; there is a certain amount of excitement just to be around the logos in real life that we all know from the web.

With several visitors who had quite a high desire to feel the famous buzz of Silicon Valley, I figured out how we could all take inspiring sightseeing tours. Yet, the tours mainly show big-name logos in real life, trigger conversations about the Silicon Valley Mindset and end in virtual indoor tours on the web.

​Exploring is also an important aspect for children in their upbringing – we want them to remain curious about what’s around them! Read further how and what you can explore about some big names and places. Feel free to send your own recommendations!